Voting-machine interlock.



PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

C. CHRISTENSEN. VOTING MACHINE INTERLOGK.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 21. 1903.

' no MODEL.

v smmm W1 L'Wmw Christ Christensen UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

. CHRIST CHRISTENSEN, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO COLUMBIA VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, IN- DIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

VOTING-MACHINE INTERLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 761,358, dated May 31, 1904.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRIST CHRISTENSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVoting-Machine Interlocks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce an interlocking mechanism for voting-machines by means of which the keys may be accurately arranged in groups of various sizes, the arrangement being such that the parts may be easily and accurately adjusted and also such that the parts cannot become accidentally displaced and also such that when once set to produce a group allowing the operation of a given number of voting-keys it will be absolutely impossible for any voter to operate a greater number of keys in that group.

This application is a division of my pending application, Serial No. 120,628.

The accompanying drawings illustratemy invention.

Figure 1 is 'avvertical section on line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a perspective of my improved grouping-finger.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the face-plate or frame of a voting-machine of any typesuch, for instance, as that Shown in Patent No. 658,20 Secured to the inside of plate 10 is a bar 11, having in its upper edge a series of notches 12, each one of which is adapted to receive the upper hooked end of a spreaderwire 13. Arranged above bar 11 is a bar 14, which prevents accidental displacement of the Spreaders from their notches. Each of the spreader-wires is provided at its lower end with an outturned end 13, the tip of which lies immediately above a plate 15, which extends along in front of the entire series. The usual interlocking stems 16 lie one between each pair of spreader-wires, and each of said stems is provided on its lower end with the usual enlarged head 16, which when drawn between the ends 13 will serve to spread them in the usual well-known manner. Ar-

Divided and this application filed September 21, 1903. Serial (No model.)

ranged adjacent the plate 15 and parallel therewith is a rod 17 which extends along the entire series of the interlocking stems and pendently adjustable on the rod 17 and may be securely held in adjusted position by any suitable means, such as the set-screw 19. For the purpose of positively engaging any one of the spreader-wires 13 each of the groupingfingers is provided with a receiving-groove 18 and is also provided on its under side with a receiving-groove 18, in which any one of the ends 13 may be seated.

In practice it is usual to provide the machine with as many grouping-fingers as there are primary or office groups of candidate keys in the machines, in which case if each one of the fingers is thrown down to operative position only one key of each group may be operated. If a larger group is desired, the undesired grouping-fingers may be swung to the position shown in dotted lines and the remaining fingers accurately adjusted to permit the desired number of operative keys in the group. Each grouping-finger is preferably not greater in thickness than any one of the spreader-wires and because of the notches 18 and 18" may be brought into very firm engagement with the spreaders and hold the desired ones down positively upon the plate 15, thus preventing all possibility of displacement after the parts have been adjusted.

I claim as my invention 1. In a voting-machine, an interlocking mechanism consisting of, a plurality of interlocking stems each provided with a thickened portion, a plurality of spreader-fingers, and an abutment-finger adjustable with relation to said spreader-fingers and interlocking Stems and provided with a socket to receive any one of the spreader-fingers.

2. In a voting-machine, an interlocking mechanism consisting of, a plurality of interlocking stems each having a thickened portion,

a plurality of swinging spreader-fingers, a rod extending alongside the said fingers, and an abutment-finger longitudinally and angularly adjustable upon said rod and provided with a socket to receive any one of the spreader-fingers.

3. In a voting-machine, interlocking mechanism consisting of spreader-wires 13 having ends 13', and an abutment-finger 18 having sockets 18 and 18", substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of interlocking stems having thickened portions, of swinging spreader-fingers each having a hooked end, and a notched bar, for supporting said fingers.

5. In a voting-machine, the combination, with a plurality of interlocking stems 'having thickened portions, of a plurality of spreaderfingers, a plate arranged beneath said lingers, and an abutment-finger adapted to engage one of said lingers and press the same upon the plate.

6. In a voting-machine, an interlocking mechanism consisting of, a plurality of interlocking stems each having a thickened portion,

a plurality of spreader-fingers, a rod extending alongside said fingers, a plate extending beneath said fingers, and an abutment-finger mounted on said rod and longitudinally and angularly adjustable with relation to the spreader-fingers and adapted to engage the same and hold one down upon the plate.

7. In a voting-machine, an interlocking mechanism consisting of, a plurality of inter locking stems each having a thickened portion, a plurality of spreader-fingers, a rod extending alongside said fingers, a plate extending beneath said fingers, and an abutment-finger mounted on said rod and provided with a notch adapted to receive one of the spread er-fingers, said abutment-finger being longitudinally and transversely adjustable with relation to the spreader-fingers.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 19th day of September, A. I). 1903. 

